30/10/2024
Al-Dameer: Legislating a law banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) contradicts the UN agreement and international laws.
Over the past years, the Israeli occupation authorities have aimed to incite and question the neutrality and professionalism of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), sometimes by pressuring UNRWA officials to dismiss employees for political reasons, and other times by reducing the services and aid it provides. They have also incited against funding it under the pretext that a number of UNRWA employees participated in the events of October 7. The occupation has also targeted all UNRWA offices and schools with the aim of stopping its role and eliminating the refugees issue.
In continuation of the series of attacks against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the Israeli occupation authorities, via Knesset, approved a law banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The law stipulates that “UNRWA shall not operate any representative office, shall not provide any service, and shall not carry out any activity, directly or indirectly (in Israel).” Another law block contact with it and withdraws diplomatic immunities from its employees. These laws also block the occupation authorities from communicating with the agency or its representatives.
Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights believes that these laws and legislations come within the framework of collective punishment and a continuation of the crime of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza Strip, and the deprivation of more than two million citizens of relief, health and educational services, which will have disastrous consequences for all Palestinian refugees in Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights confirms that banning the work of the Relief and Works Agency “UNRWA” contradicts the principles of international humanitarian law, and violates the obligations of the occupying state of Israel to the Charter of the United Nations. It also contradicts the interim measures issued by the International Court of Justice in the case filed by the State of South Africa due to its violation of the Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide.
Al- Dameer Association calls on the international community to confront attempts to eliminate the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in a way that ensures that the countries of the world and international organizations fulfill their moral, legal and humanitarian duties in protecting the Palestinians, and activating accountability mechanisms for the Israeli occupation authorities to stop the crime of genocide.
Al- Dameer Association for Human Rights.